day 75 of 365

Here's a "vintage" photo of me from about 10 or so years ago, when I was the Director-Reference Librarian-Children's Librarian-Cataloger-Historian-Archivist-Janitor at the Plumb Memorial Library in Rochester, Massachusetts. I just found it while going through old photos yesterday, and remembered this day when I did a special program with the Brownie Troop. It's hard to believe that these girls are now about ready to graduate from high school! Time flies. It got me thinking back on some memorable librarians from my past.

• There was my great-Aunt Anne, who ran the James White Memorial Library in Freetown, and bore a fleeting resemblance to Almira Gulch in the Wizard of Oz. But she ran her little one-room library with dedication and tenacity.
• And there was Grace Eastman, who was Director at the East Bridgewater Public Library for many years. We were neighbors; I babysat for her grandchildren; and she indulged my passion for books. She was lively and intelligent and maybe just a bit eccentric -- she had an interesting habit on hot summer days of mowing her lawn wearing her slip and carrying her purse.
• And Anne Petterson, the Director of the Stoughton Public Library, who was a mild-mannered librarian by day and on the weekends took to the skies as pilot of her own airplane.
  

There are numerous others who, from all appearances, could blend into the woodwork of the stereotypical librarian -- a little musty, fusty, and drab. But don't believe it. Behind those glasses beats the heart of a poet, a dancer, an artist, a conductor, a pilot, an explorer, and an adventurer. Don't let the costume fool you.

I just recently ran across this list of 85 reasons to be thankful for librarians. Have you hugged your librarian today?